My Japanese Grand Prix preview

No2SKY, there, said it!!

Murray,

Looking forward to a great race at Suzaka, though it will be a shame that the remainder of the last full BBC televised season will be a battle for the runner up places. -

OK, where did my post go???? Was it 'Off Message???

"why I think there's still plenty to look forward to this season."

Hope your right Murray as unless the BBC show all the non live races in full, uncut and unedited next season, this will be the last season a lot of us will be able to follow F1.

Yes to terristrial TV.

There is a lot to look forward to but less and less as we approach 2012. The F1 hype that has surrounded me for many years is slowly diminishing. I will still be able to watch F1 next year but "bit-part" coverage from a number of broadcasters is a wee bit of a joke.

Yes to RTL with 5Live

''Anything can happen in Formula 1''

Does that include overturning short-sighted decisions? Looking at the press release about the BBC cuts, I just can't see how the plan to retain part of F1 was thought to be cost-effective. If finances are so bad surely the better option would have been to honour the existing contract and then bow out, allowing an open/transparent bidding process (inc Ch4), whilst saving BBC funds in the long term.

On topic, am keeping fingers crossed for di Resta this weekend, hope he can match his last performance. Would love to see Force India catch up with Renault, don't like the way they treated Heidfeld at all.

No To Sky!

NO TO SKY

I can't wait; I love Suzuka as much as most of the drivers seem to. I'll be setting my alarms early for the qualification and the race. Might have a practice drive on Gran Turismo beforehand as well - the 130R turn is exciting even in a video game!

Ferrari haven't done very well there in recent years, and Alonso has said that it is the team's worst track in the closing part of the season. With that in mind, I expect Red Bull and McLaren to take first through fourth positions, providing Hamilton can stay in the race. I think Renault will do better at Suzuka than Singapore, because it is a much faster track. That's not to say they will get the better of Force India though, who have seemed to be inspired over the last few races. I think it's already becoming clear that Paul di Resta will drive for one of the top teams at some point in his F1 career, probably Mercedes after Schumacher retires (again), which I think will be at the end of next year.

BBC Coverage times of Japanese Grand Prix:2011
Friday
FP1: 01:55am - 03:25am ~ Red Button/Online
FP2: 05:55am - 07:35am ~ Red Button/Online
Saturday
FP3: 02:55am - 04:05am ~ Red Button/Online
Qualy: 05:00am - 07:30am ~ BBC One/Online
Qualy re-run: 01:00pm - 02:15pm ~ BBC One/Online
Sunday
Race: 06:00am - 09:15am ~ BBC One/Online
F1 forum: 09:15am - 10:15am ~ BBC Red Button/Online
Race re-run: 01:15pm 03:15pm ~ BBC One/Online
Highlights: 07:00pm - 08:00pm ~ BBC Three

BBC Coverage times of Japanese Grand Prix: 2012
Friday
FP1: N/A
FP2: N/A
Saturday
FP3: N/A
Qualy: N/A
Qualy re-run: N/A
Sunday
Race: Highlights (30 mins) 6:00pm - 7:00pm
F1 forum: N/A
Race re-run: N/A
Highlights: 9:00pm - 10:00pm ~ BBC Three

All the more reason to sign https://www.petition.co.uk/investigation-into-the-legality-of-the-recent-bbcsky-f1-deal/

@9. Nice points well made. I too agree that Di Resta is set for big things with Massa's Ferrari contract probably ending at the same time as you predict Schumacher's career will finish, That move wouldn't shock me either.

I strongly believe that if Kubica hadn't got injured he might have spent 2012 behind the wheel in a Ferrari.

Ahhh yes Murray it does seem to be a right battle for the 2nd place men, of course this is all immaterial, as for many of us, it will also be the greatest and last season of F1. I shall miss getting up at 03.00 to catch practice, as for me that is when the race weekend starts. Still onward and upwards I say, I won't be one of those that will be losing millions in lost revenue, and for that all I can say it tough, you made this choice now you live with it.
No to money grabbing, soul destroying half wits who care for nothing but themselves.

@10 ShaGGy_UK

Thanks for the details and I'll make sure I'm watching LIVE. Be a shame to miss those early starts next year but maybe, just maybe, I'll be a little less grumpy...

Looking forward to Silverstone next weekend though and that will be an early start!

I am looking forward to some very early morning viewing, there is something nice about getting up early, opening up the stove and watching F1 in the dark whilst most people are asleep in bed. For me its all part of being an avid F1 fan and I make a point of never missing any part of it.

Looks like the weather might play a part this weekend but what ever happens it should be an exciting race. I would always pre fare the championship to go to the last race of the season but even though we know who will be 2011 WDC I still look forward to each and every race.

As the 2011 season draws nearer and nearer to its conclusion I am filled with sadness that next year I will be unable to fully follow a sport that I have followed for the last 46 years. I have looked into the cost of the alternative but because of my location it will cost £776 for a year!, so this is my last season watching F1 unless I can persuade Uncle Bernie to change his mind. We keep being told that UK fans are the best, now we want someone to stand up, be counted and show us that fans are valued.

prettyvizsla - "We keep being told that UK fans are the best, now we want someone to stand up, be counted and show us that fans are valued." 100% agree!

NO TO SKY!

vettel will win the race comfortably,hamilton 2nd and webber 3rd

@14. prettyvizsla
@15. Fish_UK

We are see:

https://www.petition.co.uk/investigation-into-the-legality-of-the-recent-bbcsky-f1-deal

NO TO SKY!!!

Yes to RTL with 5Live...Two fingers to Bernie!

Only a few races to go titles gone and just best of the rest to play for.
No one remembers a runner up the bbc will find this out next year as they are now second fiddle to sky:)

No to sky

Still not decided yet whether to organise the annual party this weekend which for the last twenty years involves starting on the shaki and shushi at about 4pm on the Sat and continuing through till long after the GP's finished. Every year its been a giggle and has always provided the local shop keeper with some raised eyebrows, but just can't be bothered anymore. As this season draws to a close, I can't see why I for one, should get excited about something I loved since a child being squirred away by gits that are only concered about size of their bank balance. There is, and always has been, more to life than money.

Sorry, almost forgot...No to Sky

I'm not sure that there really is much to look forward to Murry. For me, every remaining race this season is now tainted by the terrible BBC/Sky deal and the impending doom of reduced viewing for next season. Can't afford/don't want Sky Sports.
RTL and 5 Live will definitely be the way forward for my family and because of this I feel I'm now a follower of 'Poor Man's F1'.

Bernie, you treat the F1 fans like s**t! You take all the money you can and wipe us off the bottom of your shoe! You are a disgrace!

Murray, F1 has been good to you and Martin Brundle. The BBC incompetent management has betrayed F1 fans. Your silence and that of Martin's is deafening. There is more to life than money. It's time to stand up and be counted.

shove the Sky deal where the sun doesn't shine

Dear Murray,

I agree with everything you say about the upcoming race. However, like so many others I am saddened that money will buy silence not only from young BBC employees but from those who should know better - even if it means giving up a nice little earner from the BBC.

I very much regret that I am ashamed to be a member of almost the same generation as you Murray but who can say that they would be able to resist the temptation of hard cash so I cannot blame you for yielding to temptation as you have done by continuing to appear on the BBC website while agreeing to say nothing about the big question.

As it costs me nothing I can say I still find the BBC's activities shameful in this matter and, even today on the BBC news, there was a repeated reference to the BBC "sharing" live F1 broadcast with Sky. We all know sharing involves a division not one party taking everthing and the other getting the crumbs that Sky chooses to let the BBC, and licence payers, have.

The BBC has to save money but it did not have to behave in the disgraceful way it has done to achieve savings.

#BBCnowBSB

I totally agree the BBC use to have a reputation worldwide for fairness and honesty to get into bed with BSkyB has completely tarnished this view, I know its business and money but as the saying goes "Don't Sh*t on your own doorstep"

Huge no to SKY

I think you are right Murray, plenty to look forward to. Personally I would like to see more coverage of the lesser teams instead of the tedious interviews with various Red Bull about how there is still a job to and we havent won it yet,,,,,,,boring. What about the people scrapping for every chance of a single point in the mid grid positions. There is some fantastic racing going on a few cars back and seeing as though the Championship is all but over lets give the other teams some good air time because lets face it when the leaders are within a few seconds of each other its the "traffic" that can make it interesting especially when they are in a battle of their own.

I cannot believe what the bbc have done. It is just mind boggling to think that someone in a higher management position in arguably one of the most well known broadcasters can be so inept and out of touch. I actually think my 7 year old could do better. Am I actually supposed to believe that to the manor reborn is better value for money than the pinnacle of motor sport, and before anyone says it yes, I know they have to cater for everyone, but surely better savings could have been found or at least a bit of transparency and honesty from the British Broadcasting Corporation.

I've said it before,,,,BBC hang your heads in shame.

No to Sky, No to being treated like this, No to watching F1 next season.

The BBC said that the decision to share F1 rights saved more cash than would have been saved by shutting one of its smaller TV channels.

If no one watches the smaller channel how is this a good deal?

wow, talk about the BBC hounding Lewis, going around asking all the drivers for their opinion on a complete non-story, good job...not.

@28 F1_Forces_Fan Well said. I too would love more attention and analysis of the players further down the standings, eg. the race for fifth place, the impact of new designers for next year, the pressures and politics of keeping a seat etc etc. There's so much more going on than the same old soundbites from Christian, Martin and Stefano, please show it (though I DON'T mean sending Lee on trips to exotic locations to interview drivers by the pool.....need to look after the pennies and all that).

The more I think about highlights, the more frustrated I get. For those among us like prettyvizsla @ 14 who are looking forward to a very long night to watch the practices on red button.... what good are race highlights? Highlights are for casual viewers, and casual viewers can be very unfaithful. F1 needs its core fanbase, many of whom have been watching for decades. Full re-runs PLEASE.

And isn't it noticeable that the news coverage about the BBC cuts is the first time they've acknowledged the Sky deal, but its been spun into the context of ''look what services we've managed to salvage just by sharing the sports rights''. No mention of blocking another FTA provider from competing for the rights, no mention of the huge backlash, or the cost of Sky to licence payers. Pathetic. NO TO SKY.

I have loved bbc's coverage over the last few years but will not be getting a sky subscription, just cant justify the extra expense so im going to really savour these last few races and would really love some Button/Hamilton wins and some classic moments please. NO TO SKY NO TO SKY NO TO SKY NO TO SKY.... You get my point.

anyone doubting the subtle yet pervasive 'negative spin' relating to a certain hamilton, consider for a mo this subtle seemingly innocent twist of words.
headline reads :

"I'm doing nothing wrong" & 'Hamilton insists he is doing nothing wrong'. yada yada.
which reads as 'defiant' 'beligerant' or stubborn.

what he actually said was "I'm not doing anything wrong." + all the other stuff about 'unfortunate' etc.
which gives more of a sense of inward looking, reflective.


but hey "I'm doing nothing wrong" is punchier isn't it? - so they go with that, just rearrange the quoted words until they fit your angle. fab.

also this sub headline: "..but he admits he is not in a good place in his life". is completely missing the point too for effect.

QUOTE:
---
Am I in the best place in my life? No, there's been a lot of negative stories[

@33 Agree - A lot of the recent Lewis coverage does smack of cheap journalism, though I think viewers/readers these days are pretty discerning in separating spin from substance (other than the anti-Lewis contingent, who are probably lapping it up. Each to his/her own I suppose).

Speaking of cheap, I watched the Sky preview clips for Suzuka....if there's a prize for making a sport as exciting as F1 sound tediously boring then Mr Jardine would win hands down.

Looking at the info on the cuts, BBC confirm that 5 Live will 'maintain sports coverage at current levels' albeit with smaller teams....meanwhile Bernie seems to be hinting the F1 radio rights could be withheld. Surely this small but rather important detail was addressed by BBC during their negotiations?
Also, the red button will be reduced to one stream post-Olympics according to the BBC cuts. Not sure if this will impact on the practice coverage for the 10 selected races?

I am a Brit living in Australia at the moment, and am gutted to hear that Sky will be having the coverage of the F1. Since BBC had taken the helm once again, for me, it redoubled in the quality of the show and the experience to the viewer without all the annoying ad breaks.

NO TO SKY!!!

@35. Yes well the BBC has thrown it all away by gifting F1 to SKY and sadly are not interested in listening to what the viewers have to say.

So make the most of coverage of the last few races of the year because it is the end, thanks to the BBC and its deal with SKY.

I guess responding to the BBC Trust consultation on the impact of the cuts is one way to have a say, though I'm hugely cynical about whether it'll change anything. Still, may as well try.
Interesting that the BBC have already cleared away the link to the consultation, as well as closing the feedback blog on the cuts after only a few hours. The consultation form is at
https://consultations.external.bbc.co.uk/bbc/dqf/consultation

It's not very user friendly, but section 2 would be the place to write comments on sports rights/TV coverage.

On topic, interesting practice sessions. Wonder if Vettel had other things on his mind going into that corner?

@37 Might have had other things on his mind or is the pressure getting to him. Just like Canada when Button really got the chance to put the pressure on and Vettel ran wide allowing him through. Singapore could have been a very different story too as Button chased and chased and needed maybe a few more laps or no safety car finish.

I think Vettel does feel the pressure and he's feeling it more than ever. I just wish other teams were able to put the pressure on a bit earlier in the season so these last few races don't turn it to a procession.

Dear Murray,
I've always loved a bit of Terry and June and Dad's Army as a kid growing up.
With the BBC cutbacks I can now relive these golden moments as repeats on BBC 2 during weekdays and, as they have made this ludicrous deal with Sky, can now repeat a whole Formula 1 GP season of a given year over the weekends just to plug the gap when Sky begin their wall to wall coverage.

As a fan of repeats I'm hoping the BBC will show extensive highlights of the repeats of Formula 1 shown earlier as a repeat on a Sunday evening, sandwiched between repeats of the Two Ronnies (The Worm That Turned was my all time favourite) and repeats of Grandstand/Sportsnight, as a reminder to younger audiences that the BBC once used to show real sport on the telly, before selling it all down the toilet to Sky.

One thing's for sure - It'll be good to have you back commentating - even though it is a repeat...or am I repeating myself?

REF 11
Agreed, Kubica has been a sad loss to Formula 1 this season and , just like Alonso, he would have capitalised on putting points on the board consistently with an inferior car. I hope he recovers fully for next season.

@40 Here here. Can't wait to see him back, but hopefully that doesnt mean Senna is without a seat as I enjoy watching his drives.

I think Senna has proved himself and he will be around next year with one of the teams.

@37.jingle

I filled in all the sections, all with an F1 spin.


Director General of the BBC, Mark Thompson has said he's "Passionate about F1"
Could have fooled me.
He has also said 75 minute highlights are better than early morning races ... Well not if you're passionate about F1.

The BBC caved in to Sky pressure over full race re-runs, and seem to be under pressure to time delay the radio broadcasts too ... When Sky say jump Mark Thompson asks 'how high'.

@42 I think you're right, been very impressed with Perez as well. Senna has shone. Petrov is improving all the time and it looks like Renault have got a lot of patience for him. Heidfeld was a little unlucky to lose his seat but its a cut throat business and if you snooze, you lose.

Murray is just a puppet of the BBC, which is really sad considering how abysmal the BBC has become :)
And since when was Murray "legendary" ? Take the rosie specs off, ppl. For decades he was the laughing stock of BBC F1 commentary.

NO SKY HERE. Suck it up.

https://www.pitpass.com/44867-Sky-to-get-a-rude-awakening-from-F1

More comment on the story that won't go away.

@46 really interesting article. I think there is a bit of paranoia that Sky coverage will be rubbish, I doubt it will be that bad. It won't be a scratch on the BBC coverage though. But what does any of that matter when no one is watching it.

Yes to RTL with 5Live

@46 An interesting read to say the least. I'm getting the feeling that when the deal was struck, and a few pockets lined, it was a "great deal" for the fans but now everyone is reflecting on it then it would seem that the poop has hit the fan.

@47 - the tag line should be "Yes to RTL maybe with 5Live......"

@46, a superb piece :)

Before viewing the Suzuka practice sessions thought I'd take a few minutes to complete the BBC's DQF consultation forms (links already being hidden). Managed to fill in the key 3 sections, despite the forms being written to confuse, and avoid responses about F1.

Worth a go everyone

@48 Very true. I'm fully aware that little man will do everything in his power to alienate the fan base as I feel its in his "bigger picture" plans.

I'll hold off for a while before I have to learn German though.

Yes to RTL and any bloody English speaking commentary I can find.

"what if Sky's F1 production is rusty around the edges? Whilst there is no evidence it will be, this isn't impossible. Remarkably people would then be paying £470 for worse quality broadcasting than they currently get for free."

The race coverage will be identical, as that is supplied by FOM, so Sky coverage can't be better, but ...
Only the pre and post race shows can be different, BBC's post show (including the forum) is about 2 hours long, Sky will run a minimum of 12 minutes of adverts per hour (likely 15 minutes with bumpers), so to get the same content length as the BBC Sky will need a show about 2 1/2 hours long, to say their show delivers 'considerably' more they will have to transmit for something like 3 1/4 hours with ads' and bumpers.

Now when you consider the BBC gets about 5 million viewers per race and between about 1 million down to 250,000 for the post show and forum, and the comparable Sky Germany gets 300,000 for the race, Sky are likely to be looking at 2000 viewers for a 3 hour+ post race show.

I looks like Pitpass have something.

Following the announced job cuts at the BBC and some staff refusing to go to Salford unconfirmed reports that the new Sky F1 team, along with the dull Spud, will consist of:
Pit Lane = Mr Tumble (Only does sign language)
Race commentator = Tinky Winky (If there is an accident you will get Eh Oh!)
Host = Graham Norton
Driver Interviewer = Anne Robinson (You are the weakest driver.. Goodbye!)
And in the studio for Sky:
The Spud (aka Nytol)
Hic, I can still drive, Thompson

@51 And that isn't even mentioning the backlog of ads that need to be cleared after the supposedly uninterrupted race coverage. Like they do at half time in the football, where the presenters can barely finish a sentence without having to break for the ads.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Sky's Managing Director Barney Francis, has said F1 will be broadcast over all 5 Sky sports channels ... So if you've got certain cable packages you won't see some coverage.

Q: is that 75 minutes for the highlight programme, or for the actual highlights of the race?
am guessing it more likely to be a 1hr30 prog with 75 min highlights.
a 1hr 15min prog doesn't make sense.

its no live race for sure, but 1hr15 highlights of 1/2 the races could be 'bearable' if you've not got the facility to do anything else. -
but i'd agree learning german may be a better bet. but they do love their stats, be warned!

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

This link will probably be removed again but it has important information about the BBC coverage next year https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b015cnm2/Shelagh_Fogarty_06_10_2011/?t=17m02s

@58

Bad enough the deal is ridiculously bad and every fan can clearly see this but does the Director General really think fans are that unbelievably stupid??

Surely if they are trying to sell the unsellable to the fan should they not put a bit more thought into what they are saying rather than imagine they are talking to 4 year olds?? Maybe because Jake used to host children programs and now hosts F1, "passionate fan" Thompson thinks they are roughly the same type of thing with the same audience! lol

In case my link is removed please check out Shelagh Fogarty's interview of Mark Thompson on the radio section of the BBC I player the date is 6/10/2011 at about 17 mins in!

Don't forget to fill in the BBC Trust's forms ... Even if they don't want to talk about F1

https://consultations.external.bbc.co.uk/bbc/dqf/

I see the bbc cencors are busy moving posts again:)
I do hope they are still around after the cut backs:D

Might be the last race out of japan I see so going to enjoy it no matter what.

The bbc's director general gets three quarters of a million a year sack him and get someone else in if bbc really needs the money.

The bbc are a sad joke showing half a seson what point is that lol
Hope both sky and the bbc get a rude awakening next year as for me I think Ill start looking into rtl:)

No to sky and sack the director general:)

@63 I've already positioned my satellite to receive RTL, next step is Rosetta Stone course for German :)

This is just in case Bernie turns my radio off.

Confirmed: BBC will only broadcast 75 minute highlights program for races not show live
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b015cnm2/Shelagh_Fogarty_06_10_2011/?t=17m02s

So German 101

Remember in German words are sometime joined together as one where we would separate them.

Also remember 'ie' is pronounce as 'ee'; 'ei' is pronounce 'i'

so 'Bier' is pronounced beer and 'Mein' is pronounced Mine An 'e' on its own is pronounce as an 'a' as in kurve - kurva. If you want to learn German learn the pronunciation of the alphabet

Also some of the translations are very descriptive i.e Kolbenwelle for crankshaft means piston wave which is exactly what happens.

Kurve - Bend
Kolben - Piston
Kolbenwelle - crankshaft
nockenwelle - camshaft
kupplung - clutch
kehre - sharp bend
haarnadelkurve - hairpin bend
rennwagen - racing car
getriebe - gears
getriebkasten - gearbox
reifen - tyre
slick reifen - slick tyre
glatt - smooth
nass - wet
bremsen - brakes
benzin - petrol
luftstrom - air flow
runde - lap
rundenzeit - lap time
bremsentest - brake test (handy for some drivers)
rennstrecke - racing circuit
beschleunigen or Gas geben - accelerate (used for drag racing - beschleunigenrennen)
hau ab - go forth and multiply or urinate away

Alphabet

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W,
ah, bay, say, day, A, F, gay, Hah, ee, yot, ka , L, M, N, aw, pay, koo, er, S, tay, oo, fow, vay,

X, Y, Z
icks, ypsilon, zet

Enough to get you started.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

@63 ferrari35, don't sell him short Marky the D to the G wouldn't settle for a paltry 3/4 million pounds a year salary! He took in £834,000 and that was 2009, he also tried to get BBC managment bonuses back recently but this was stopped.

I bet he has a full Sky Sports HD subscription package at work, and home, paid for by expenses as well, just to 'research other channel outputs'. The question is for such a passionate F1 fan will he be watching Monaco 2012 on Sky Sports to see the whole 2012 championship or will he watch the cut back BBC 2012 version.

Just how much money would BBC save if his salary was say £200,000 instead of way over £800,000, and the other upper managment 'headless chickens', Babs et all, were paid scaled proportionately down from his 200K to say 40K. Methinks a shedload of millions.

His own staff think his salary is "wrong and corrosive".

And on topic, hope we get some moves into 130R at Suzuka this weekend! I'd like to see Vettel having to really fight for the win though it looks like only the McLarens can challenge for the rest of the year though...

Remember if you get set up with RTL, you can also pick up TF1 for French coverage and you'll get DTM (to watch Rubens next year ;) They also show it picture in picture during their adverts so you don't really miss the action. Thanks for the lesson Dave, hows this, "Bernie ist gierig, nass und nutzlos"

Thanks to Czar and everyone for the recent links and entertaining posts keeping us up to date. If there are any newbies out there check Don Foster MP's letters and email your MPs as Don asked for as much support from us to our own MPs. All it takes is to bullet point Don's letters in an email to your MP, easy to find online. We deserve answers from the BBC and Bernie.

Enjoy the final BBC Japanese GP this weekend, Suzuka like Spa is too good a circuit for Sky to let BBC have next year... nice deal DG, great deal Babs, ASB?

No to Sky and the dumbing down SkyBetification of F1. Anyone else notice Sky sponsorship of PlanetF1 site with SkyBet everywhere, proof that for Sky, F1 is about betting and making money, not about the quality of coverage or the audience numbers.

complete joke.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

I just took part in the BBC Trust consultation on DQF. This was my input on section 2 "television":

One of the 5 key pillars is: Events that bring communities and the nation together.

In a report from January 2011 on the Management of sports right commissioned by BBC Trust it is concluded that Formula 1 is an event "of national resonance that bring the nation together".

The report continues: Formula 1 (...) attract a younger (16-34) male audience that is otherwise hard to reach.

So in line with the 5th pillar, the savings made on Formula 1 cannot be justified and should be made elsewhere within the BBC.

@66 & @67

Danke schoen.

@71 Piet Boon Have just sent off my submission too. Have to admit I got a bit carried away...am feeling 'all complained out' right now (though I'm sure the frustration will recharge itself, Kers-style).
Seems the Trust aren't going to publish conclusions till next Spring, which is a bit late in the day for us, but no harm in having a go.

hi murray always loved ur work i came across this wonderful music from a favourite band of mine in tribute to ayrton please take a look its wonderful :) try and show the beeb boys and get them to show it - everyone should see this. by the way i took my mum aged 76, 6 yrs ago to see her first live f1 race at silverstoner - she been a fan since it started and it was her first time there live - she says to this day it was her most awesome day out ever :)

https://youtu.be/uH6jc4sQaYY

So the run up to the Japanese race eh? Seb will be champ after it......Hamilton will be penalised for breathing in a manner that constitutes a moveable aerodynamic device, any excuse these days.

I'm not interested in the opinion of Murray 'Thirty Pieces of Silver' Walker though. If his opinion didn't agree with the BBC's he'd probably be silent.

@66 Thanks Dave, or should I say "Danke schoen". I don't think Rosetta would have taught me those words. I haven't got any further than going swimming or playing football yet so I'm not sure she's going to tell me what crank shaft is. Thanks though haha.

Seriously... Every time I read the comments on this site, its nearly always about bloody SKY. So it's sordid news, it's horrible and we know the coverage won't be as slick - but please stop crying over it. Let's enjoy this season shall we?!

@76 Crankshaft is Kurbelwelle in German and Bernie Ecclestone is Robin Barsteward.

@78 I already knew what Bernie Ecclestone was, its the same in most languages, just with an accent above different vowels for pronunciation.

My apologies for the crankshaft translation. BTW Zuhälter does describe some people.

@77. GO_GO_GO

We have to talk about it in this season or next season it will be

GONE_GONE_GONE

@ GO_GO_GO. Don't be too hard on the protestors. They've provided me with more laughter than an episode of Live at the Apollo just lately!

Still I can't deny that the continued sanctimonious spamming and self-righteous trolling is more than a little irksome.

No to Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzky. (Sorry, nodded off...)

@82 you are excessbaggage

NO TO SKY (this is me shouting, to wake you up)

@ F1Nut. You can shout all you like. None of the people who really matter are listening. All the anti-Sky posts are doing is trying the patience of other fans who read the blogs and forums. Total waste of time.

Sadly we are entering the final few races of the season and the final few races before F1 loses connection with the fans completely.

Shame on the BBC, No to Sky.

@ 84
Once again you miss the point!

@ExcessBaggage.

Where have you been? I've missed you. It feels like forever since I've heard your self-righteous campaign against the protestors.

These pages and columns have been so dry and arid without your combative retorts.

Don't leave again please, we'd all miss you far too much.

@ F1Nut. If I've missed the point, you and the other anti-Sky posters can't be doing a very good job of explaining it then can you?

If "the point" is to publicise what the BBC have done and educate the wider public to the loss of free to air F1 - then that doesn't appear to be working. The e-petition is crawling along and struggling to gain numbers. There's very little mention of the F1 rights deal in mainstream media. Most of the public are apathetic and don't care. They're casual tv viewers who will happily watch F1 if it's on, but will also equally happilly watch something else in it's place.

If "the point" is to prick the conscience of the BBC by attracting their attention to the dissent on these blogs it seems to have failed spectacularly. The BBC are ignoring the protests.

If "the point" is to worry Bernie Ecclestone and the hugely rich companies with sponsorship contracts it hasn't worked yet either. They don't care about the fans.

The truth is that people like us are the bottom of the F1 food chain. And most of us realise there is no "point" in complaining about it. It's only a matter of time before the very tiny number of moral crusaders on these boards accept that as reality too.

@ SirAdamOfWarburton. I'm never too far away. I've personally missed contributions from the likes of Miss_T_Fied and Stee_vee_E, along with a few others just lately. Even samson2009 has seemed quiet recently. What's the matter? Campaign running out of steam?

@ExcessBaggage

You say "Most of the public are apathetic and don't care. " but from my personal experience Most of the Public are unaware of what the deal is to date I have spoken to ONE person who knew 'or thought they knew' about the deal, they knew the BBC and SKY were Sharing F1 but he thought that all the races were on the BBC until I educated him pointing out that only Half the races were in full and the other half were within a 75 minute highlights program later in the race day. All the others had no idea any deal had taken place.

The BBC have quite cleverly hidden this from the General public and therefore the more we talk about it the more the news will spread.

https://www.petition.co.uk/investigation-into-the-legality-of-the-recent-bbcsky-f1-deal

@89 I wouldn't say the campaign is running out of steam as there isn't a campaign at all. I personally think that it is just a number of people that are very aggrieved at the practices of a public broadcaster.

I think its more a quest for truth than a campaign. We were losing both World Wars for a long time but persevering prevailed. Maybe just maybe we see light at the end of the tunnel, and no disrespect, ok maybe a little disrespect but you arguing is not going to deter passionate people.

These are just analogies and not to be taken too seriously. Go on, bite your tongue, I dare you.

Spotted this outside the BBC Sports HQ :)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150472885438906&set=o.149121281832578&type=1&ref=nf

Is it just me, or is Murray in the still before you click play on the video just about to say "No to Sky"

Or in it's fullest: NO to Sky, Yes to RTL with 5Live.

No to Sky, No to Sky, No to Sky and...












...No to Sky

It is too late now, RB will have planned the party for tomorrow.

Hi Murray, any chance you could sign a deal to be the commentator on RTL?

No To Sky

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

@88 you are excessbaggage

Unlike you, I'm not prepared to give up!

I'm not going to roll over and present my throat!

Admittedly, these blogs are perhaps not the most effective way to complain about the decision to sell-out the fans but it is a good way to show support to other genuine fans.

As I said before you are missing the point and I know by saying this, it will annoy you greatly.

Fight the fight don’t be a submissive jerk.

NO TO SKY (still shouting

I've just performed the ritual self flagellation that is watching Sky's race preview. Who's the bimbo? No not Jardine, the other one? I can only assume that part of the deal was that the BBC gets shares in Skybet to bolster their coffers. Anybody who thinks that anything that these people can drag up will be an improvement must be seriously retarded.

Benie, Murray, have you actually watched any of this dross?

To be honest, I don't have a problem if Bernie chops five live too, I can see enough of what is going on from the FOM feed to not care what language the commentary is in. I suppose Bernie will now say he's cancelling FOM's broadcast rights next.

As always NO TO SKYBET! Yes to our German cohorts!!

Nice to see the sky salesman is back on the blog:D
Running out of steam some may have I have not going to be round for a long time:)
While some are over the moon with the great tv deal the self serving bbc has landed on us Im not.

As for berine taking away the bbc right to broadcast f1 on five live they are no longer a major player cant see why they should keep it.

Need to sleep got to be up for the last japan gp on the bbc tomorrow:)
Yes to rtl
No to sky

Almost forgot dont forget to send in all your questions and coments to the bbc on the fourm after the race tomorrow we all know how the bbc hold us f1 fans in high reguard but just remember if its about the deal they (like murray) dont care and wont respond anyway.

Still it will be nice to remind them all we are still here:D

Yes to rtl
No to sky:)